[As told by Ravi Thanatos]

Their numbers were reduced to twelve. Not including the Manikins, so had the numbers under Chaos. Fortunately, Shadow was still there—well, Ravi found it fortunate...

Ravi followed Cosmos down to where the others were waiting.

"Cosmos," the Warrior of Light spoke up, "if I may inquire, what is your reason for calling us together here?"

Cosmos paused-- it was almost as if she was uncertain over why she had decided to gather her warriors herself.

"You twelve… are all that remain…" She spoke slowly, obviously trying to phrase things carefully. "I am…" She took a deep breath. "I do not believe… I will be able to defeat Chaos… this time…" All twelve of her warriors stiffened, some giving her stunned looks, some too emotionless to do much more than stiffen—the names Cloud and Squall came to Ravi's mind. "You must find the light… which even in a broken world could not fade…" She looked each of her twelve warriors in the eyes. "The light of the crystals."

"Crystals…?" the Onion Knight muttered.

"These crystals embody the strength to face despair," Cosmos continued, her voice stronger. "The twelve gathered hold the hope of saving the world. Each of you must follow a different path to your own crystal—but all paths shall be dangerous."

The twelve nodded at her warning, though Terra did seem a bit nervous. Ravi put a hand on her shoulder, smiling comfortingly when she looked at him. She returned the expression, though her uncertainty still showed.

"You must believe in and follow your own path," the goddess seemed to have had a well-prepared speech ready for this. Well, part of one, at least. "Even if you know not where that path leads…" Tension picked up in a single heartbeat, Cosmos stumbling slightly. "Please… Let me rest… When you have each obtained your crystals, we can all reunite once more…"

The twelve warriors looked on as Cosmos vanished… She would be back when she was needed. That was one thing they could all count on.

"Well, I suppose we each go our separate ways…" Balthier mused.

There was a moment of silence, no one moving.

"Perhaps we should try to stay together, for as long as we can…" The Warrior of Light suggested. No one seemed to object, following him out of the Planet's Core.

Passing through Dream's End, a voice made everyone stop, Ravi spinning to face the speaker. He was half smiling.

"So, Crystals, huh…?" Shadow. He was sitting on the hilt of the giant stone sword in the center of everything.

"This is none of your concern, Dark One," the Warrior of Light replied before Ravi even had the chance to open his mouth.

Shadow shrugged. "Don't blame me for wanting to get away from Emperor's annoying ranting…"

Firion, somewhere behind Ravi, tried—and failed—to hold in a snicker.

"Shadow…"

"I guess I should get out of your hair… for now, at least…" What Shadow muttered in addition was almost undecipherable. "Until they make me come back…"

In all of two seconds, his best friend was gone.

Ravi, disheartened, turned to follow the others. He looked up at a hand on his shoulder, meeting Terra's eyes. She smiled, obviously trying to comfort him. He managed to return the gesture.

The twelve came full circle and then some, back into Kabaab Aljana. This "island temple" made Ravi feel nostalgic for some reason…

"Well, anyone? Anything?" The Warrior of Light looked at everyone. In response, all that he received was shaking heads.

"Maybe we really should just split up," Cloud spoke—surprise, surprise: his voice was completely monotone.

"Doesn't sound like a bad idea to me." Squall—he was a loner anyway. Anyone could see that.

Not everyone seemed to share their sentiments.

Ravi didn't care anymore. As long as he could find Shadow, he would be happy. It didn't matter that they were on opposite sides, Shadow was still his best friend—and that wasn't going to change any time soon.